Gonzaga Climbs to No. 3 Seed in Latest Bracketology

Bulldogs move up after losses by other top teams

Published on Mar. 5, 2026

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Gonzaga has climbed back to a projected No. 3 seed in Joe Lunardi's latest NCAA Tournament bracket projections, moving up after losses by several other top teams. The Bulldogs had previously fallen to a No. 4 seed after losing to Saint Mary's, but have regained ground as teams like Kansas, Nebraska, Purdue, and Iowa State have all suffered recent defeats.

Why it matters

Gonzaga's standing as a top seed is crucial for their chances of making a deep run in the NCAA Tournament. As one of the top programs in college basketball, the Bulldogs are expected to be a contender for the national championship, and a higher seed would give them a better path to the Final Four.

The details

Gonzaga climbed back to the No. 3 seed in the West Region and No. 12 overall team in Lunardi's projections. They are behind Purdue, Nebraska, and Iowa State, but have gained ground on those teams as they have all suffered losses in recent weeks. Meanwhile, other top teams like Kansas, Texas Tech, and Alabama have also faltered, giving Gonzaga some separation at the No. 3 line.

  • Gonzaga lost to Saint Mary's on February 25, causing them to fall to a No. 4 seed in Lunardi's previous bracket.
  • Lunardi updated his projections on March 5, moving Gonzaga back up to a No. 3 seed.

The players

Mark Few

The head coach of the Gonzaga Bulldogs men's basketball team.

Joe Lunardi

ESPN's bracketologist, who releases regular projections of the NCAA Tournament field.

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What they’re saying

“Movement between the last couple of No. 2 seeds all the way through the No. 5 seeds has been consistent over the past few weeks, as injuries and upsets have ravaged college basketball's elite programs.”

— Joe Lunardi, ESPN Bracketologist (si.com)

What’s next

Gonzaga will play in the semifinals of the West Coast Conference Tournament on Monday, March 9 at 6:00 PM ET on ESPN+, facing the winner of Oregon State and one of San Francisco, Washington State, Portland, or Pepperdine.

The takeaway

Gonzaga's climb back to a No. 3 seed in the latest bracketology projections shows their resilience and the volatility at the top of college basketball this season. Despite a recent loss, the Bulldogs have regained ground on other top contenders and are positioning themselves for another deep NCAA Tournament run.